Chairmanship of G-20 Group: Many challenges facing India

- Shifting the discussion from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to other important issues will increase mutual cooperation among the member states of the Group (G-20).

Two recent ministerial-level meetings of the Group of 20 G-20 ended without issuing a joint statement. Non-release of a joint statement by the member countries in the meetings of this group could prove to be a big problem for India. India has to play an active role to find a solution to this problem. India has worked hard to win the presidency of the group of U-20 countries to show its leadership potential in the world. Indonesia was chairing the G-20 group last year. Under his leadership, results exceeded expectations. With the help of the Indian delegation, Indonesia managed to bring Europe, Russia and China together in terms of the wording used in the joint statement on Ukraine.

The words used in the joint statement issued after the G-20 group meeting last year are no longer acceptable to Russia and China. Meanwhile, European and American countries want to include the Russian attack on Ukraine in the statement issued by the representatives of the G-20 group on financial issues. In this meeting on financial issues under the G-20 group, the geopolitical situation is not discussed much and only its immediate consequences are considered.

India's official position is that not issuing a joint statement is not a problem. According to India, the country is chairing the meeting, an official statement issued by it may take its place. India sees its role as a link between the countries of the West and the East and the countries of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. With this in mind, India's failure to bring all countries together should be a matter of concern. By chairing the Y-20 group, India can partially advance its own interests, but not completely. The concept of multilateralism has suffered in recent years in the world. With this in mind, India is looking at the U20 group as a forum where decisions can be taken on common issues.

Indian diplomats also believe that isolation from global operations has increased rapidly in countries of the Global South after the Covid pandemic, so some institutions should at least take initiatives to prevent this isolation from becoming a crisis. It is also clear that other structures associated with multilateralism are emerging that exist to replace or complement existing multilateral institutions.

For example, Japan announced that it would be part of a new dispute settlement framework drawn up by the European Union. This framework is being designed to replace the arbitration process at the World Trade Organization. As these new multilateral structures are being prepared without the active participation of developing countries, it should be a matter of concern for these countries, especially India. India sees the chairmanship of the U20 group as the culmination of its many years of efforts. Such an effort was initiated by Indonesia, and Brazil will chair the group in 2024. In 2025, the group will be headed by South Africa.

The chairmanship of these countries will focus on reshaping the debate on global governance at the special request of developing countries. Even these long-term efforts may be in jeopardy if India's presidency does not live up to expectations. The serious goal of repairing the damage done to multilateralism, finding solutions to common problems and increasing the participation of India and fast emerging countries in global governance can easily be derailed.